We will be hiking through two separate and distinct areas of forested land. They are presently owned by the

municipality, with one parcel currently for sale. They are just blocks away from each other.

The
parcel that is for sale is a mixed conifer/deciduous forest with
different types of habitat. There is extensive vegetation on the forest
floor, various tree types and over 100 species of birds and animals that
have been observed by naturalists. Some of the trees may be as old as 240 years.
The deciduous part of the forest contains a giant hollow cottonwood that
we will be visiting. It is in an area that may have been marsh/bog in
the nineteenth century and potentially has never been logged. Another
area of this lot contains some stumps with evidence of pioneer logging.
The thick vegetation makes this forest appear larger than its 25 acres.

Not
so with the other parcel of land. This is a 25 acre open floor forest
of mostly conifer trees.This means that you can almost look from one
edge of the forest to the other. This parcel is reminiscent of the once
dominant ecology of the Fraser Valley before European arrival and
extensive logging by pioneers. Until July 9, 2012 most of it was also
for sale by the municipality; the sale was reversed due to public
pressure.

Watchers of Langley Forests is a group
of Langley residents who came together in support of conserving both
parcels. A member of the group will be guiding us through the forest.

Please respond to theresamartin14@gmail.com if you are interested in joining us on this hike. A car pool can be arranged if there is interest.